Modular isolation apparatus for power trowel

ABSTRACT

Preventing slurry, dirt, and grime from being ejected from a safety cage of a power trowel, and infiltrating the motors, gears, electrical and electronic components of the power trowel is achieved by temporarily installing an isolation assembly comprising one or more plates and associated locking mechanisms.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to power trowels used for floor polishing and finishing concrete. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modular isolation apparatus that prevents slurry, dirt, and grime generated when using a power trowel from infiltrating the motors, gears, electrical and electronic components of the power trowel. In the case of a ride-on power trowel, an isolation apparatus also reduces the amount of slurry, dirt, and grime that can reach the operator or the operator's clothing.

II. Related Art

Both walk-behind and ride-on power trowels are well-known in the art. Such power trowels typically comprise one or more rotating blades enclosed by a safety cage. Power trowels are used to create a polished, level finish on a variety of concrete surfaces. Floating, finishing, and combination blades are used to create the desired result.

While the safety cages used on power trowels adequately serve to prevent injury, the openings in the safety cages allow slurry, dirt, and grime (collectively debris) to be ejected from the cage. This debris so ejected routinely infiltrates the motors, gears, electrical and electronic components of the power trowel. Also, the footwear and pantlegs of a user operating a power trowel often become coated with such debris.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the foregoing problems by providing a modular isolation apparatus for a concrete finishing machine. Such concrete floor finishing machines typically comprise a frame supporting at least one motor adapted to rotate a concrete finishing tool such as a floating, finishing, or combination blade. Walk-behind machines often include a single motor rotating a single tool while ride-on machines typically include two or more motors each rotating a separate tool.

The modular isolation apparatus may include a single plate or a plurality of plates. Such plates are each adapted to be temporarily coupled to the frame above the tool and isolate the motor(s) from debris generated by rotation of the tool(s). The isolation apparatus also includes a plurality of temporary fasteners, each adapted to temporarily lock a plate to the frame.

In some embodiments, the one or more of the plates is further adapted to slide into at least one channel formed in the frame. When such channels are available, a temporary fastener of the plurality of temporary fasteners is typically adapted to temporarily prevent a plate inserted into the channel from moving relative to the channel.

While various temporary fasteners may be used to temporarily lock the plate(s) in place relative to the frame, a temporary fastener comprising a spring biased detent may be employed. The spring biased detents used as the temporary fasteners may include a collar, a pin adapted to be reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition. Such spring-biased detents may also include a handle coupled to the pin making it easier for the user to overcome the force of the spring and retract the pin from its locked to its unlocked position. Typically, the collar is coupled to one of the plates and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition. Alternatively, the detent may be coupled to the frame and engage a hole in a plate. Other styles of temporary fasteners may be used to temporarily couple the plates to the frame. Since it is often necessary to remove the plates from the frame, permanent fasteners such as a weldment or permanent adhesive are excluded from the term “temporary fastener” as used in this disclosure and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and with reference to the following drawings in which like numerals in the several views refer to corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the isolation apparatus of the present invention and a floor finishing machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of that portion of the floor finishing machine within the circle labeled “A” in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is perspective view of a plate and its fasteners of the isolation apparatus of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the plate and fasteners of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the isolation apparatus of the present invention and a floor finishing machine of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description of the preferred embodiment is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom”, “under”, as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, “underside”, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “connected”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “joined”, and “joining” are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece unless expressly described otherwise.

A concrete floor finishing machine, specifically a power trowel 1, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 . The power trowel 1, includes a frame 2 supporting a pair of motors 3 and 4. These motors are adapted to individually operate to rotate a pair of tools (not shown) that reside and spin below the motors 3/4 and the frame 2. Such tools may be a floating, finishing, or combination blades, grinding or polishing pads or other tools well known in the art and adapted o be driven by the motors of a power trowel or other floor finishing machine. Walk-behind machines often include a single motor rotating a single tool while ride-on machines typically include two or more motors each rotating a separate tool.

The frame 2 of power trowel 1 includes frame members comprising channels 5, 6, and 7. The frame 2 also includes frame members having orifices 8 and 9.

The isolation apparatus may include a single plate or may be modular comprising a plurality of plates such as plates 10, 12, 16, 18, 20 and 22. Such plates are each adapted to be temporarily coupled to the frame 2 above the tools and isolate the motors 3 and 4 from debris generated by rotation of the tools. The isolation apparatus also includes a plurality of temporary fasteners, e.g., fasteners 30, 32, 34 and 36. Each of these fasteners 30-36 is adapted to temporarily lock a plate e.g., plates 14 and 20) to the frame 2.

When such channels such as 5 through 7 are available, one or more temporary fasteners are adapted to temporarily prevent a plate inserted into the channel(s) from moving relative to the channel(s). As shown in FIG. 1 , the edges of plate 14 reside in such channels and plate 14 is prevented from moving laterally relative to these channels by temporary fasteners 34 and 36.

While various types of temporary fasteners may be used to temporarily lock the plates in place relative to the frame, the temporary fasteners 30 through 36 shown are each a spring-biased detent. These spring-biased detents include a collar 40, a pin 42 adapted to reciprocated relative to the collar 40 between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring (not shown) adapted to bias the pin 42 toward the locked position. Such spring-biased detents may also include a handle 44 coupled to the pin 42 making it easier for the user to overcome the force of the spring and retract the pin 42 from its locked to its unlocked position. Typically, the collar 40 is coupled to one of the plates and the pin 42 has an end adapted to reside in an orifice such as 8 or 9 in the frame 2 when the pin is in the locked position. Alternatively, the detent may be coupled to the frame and engage a hole in a plate.

Other types of temporary fasteners that may be used include snaps, straps, bands, “hook and loop” style pads, or any of a variety of mechanical dogs, pawls, or catches. The type and number of temporary fasteners suitable for use depends on the construction of the frame 2 and whether the members of the frame 2 include channels that can receive and capture edges of the plates. Since it is often necessary to remove the plates from the frame for cleaning of the machine or replacement of the tool, permanent fasteners such as a weldment or permanent adhesive are excluded from the term “temporary fastener” as used in this disclosure and the claims. The foregoing description is intended to explain the various features and advantages but is not intended to be limiting. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims which are also intended to cover a reasonable range of equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular isolation apparatus for a concrete finishing machine comprising a frame supporting at least one motor adapted to rotate a concrete finishing tool, the modular isolation apparatus comprising: a. at least one plate adapted to be temporarily coupled to the frame above the tool and isolate the at least one motor from debris generated by rotation of the tool; and b. at least one temporary fastener adapted to temporarily lock the at least one plate to the frame.
 2. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one plate is further adapted to slide into at least one channel formed in the frame and said at least one temporary fastener is further adapted to temporarily prevent the at least one plate from moving relative to the at least one channel.
 3. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one temporary fastener comprises a collar, a pin adapted to reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition.
 4. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 3 wherein the collar is coupled to the at least one plate and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition.
 5. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 5 wherein a handle is coupled to the pin.
 6. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one temporary fastener comprises a collar, a pin adapted to reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition.
 7. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 6 wherein the collar is coupled to the at least one plate and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition.
 8. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 7 wherein a handle is coupled to the pin.
 9. A modular isolation apparatus for a concrete finishing machine comprising a frame supporting at least one motor adapted to rotate a concrete finishing tool, the modular comprising: a. a plurality of plates, each adapted to be temporarily coupled to the frame above the tool and isolate the at least one motor from debris generated by rotation of the tool; and b. a plurality of temporary fasteners, each adapted to temporarily lock a plate of said plurality of plates to the frame.
 10. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 9 wherein the at least one plate of said plurality of plates is further adapted to slide into at least one channel formed in the frame and at least one temporary fastener of said plurality of temporary fasteners is further adapted to temporarily prevent said at least one plate of said plurality of plates from moving relative to the at least one channel.
 11. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 9 wherein at least one temporary fastener of said plurality of temporary fasteners comprises a collar, a pin adapted to reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition.
 12. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 11 wherein the collar is coupled to at least one plate of said plurality of plates and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition.
 13. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 12 wherein a handle is coupled to the pin.
 14. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one temporary fastener of the plurality of temporary fasteners comprises a collar, a pin adapted to be reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition.
 15. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 14 wherein the collar is coupled to the at least one plate is coupled to at least one plate of said plurality of plates and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition.
 16. The modular isolation apparatus of claim 14 wherein a handle is coupled to the pin. 